Nimrod (Mikhol, Mikholit) (Israel), Air-to-surface missiles - Direct attack
Sep 07, 2010
Type
Laser-guided air-to-surface missile.
Development
The Nimrod Advanced Laser-Guided Missile System (N/ALGMS) has been developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) as a private venture for both ground- and air-launched use, and was tailored to the Israel Defence Force's operational needs as an anti-tank weapon. In IDF service the missile is known as the Mikhol. Little is known of the Nimrod's development, and its existence was virtually unknown until it was shown at the Paris Air Show in 1989. The Nimrod has also been designed to attack armoured vehicles, parked aircraft, SAM sites and troop concentrations. It was also being offered as a lightweight coastal defence weapon. An unconfirmed report in 1990 stated that the development and flight trials had been financed by a potential overseas export customer, but the customer has not been identified. A ground-launched version is also believed to be in service in Israel, with four launch containers mounted in an open back four-wheeled Jeep-type vehicle, or with 16 containers mounted on a converted AMX-13 tracked vehicle chassis.Jane's sources report that Israel has developed a specialist reduced collateral damage version of the Nimrod, known as Mikholit (meaning paintbrush). This a smaller, lightweight derivative of the Nimrod, optimised for UAV launch. The Mikholit is believed to weigh between 20 kg and 30 kg and have a range of about 10 km. Typical launch altitudes would be between 1,000 m and 3,000 m. The IDF is fielding armed version of the IAI Heron and Elbit Hermes UAV families, and the Mikholit has been identified ...
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